Model of multiple-layer pavement structure-subsoil system

Abstract

Progress made in recent years has brought about a high demand for increasingly modern structural and technological solutions. Each structure should in turn be designed and built to show sufficient durability for the intended period of use. The requirement of durability is met if, throughout its intended lifetime, the structure fulfils its roles regarding load-bearing capacity, serviceability limits and stability without excessive, unexpected costs. Due to the above, a need arises to predict the response of an engineering structure to given loads throughout its life. Thus it becomes increasingly common to employ numerical analyses using the finite elements method (FEM), both on the design stage and later, for the purposes of evaluating the state of a specific structure. However, a numerical calculation model may be constructed in different ways. This paper presents the impact of geometry of the model, the choice of a discretization mesh and the choice of a continuous 3D or 2D model corresponding to pavement-subgrade system calculation model. 3-dimensional modelling was carried out in this paper as full modelling of actual engineering problems in 3-dimensional space, and in the form of simplified modelling using axial symmetry. In the model, a traditional multi-layer pavement structure was considered. Criterion values obtained in numerical analyses were compared to values obtained with the use of VEROAD software.